Heinz ULZHEIMER

Middle-distance runner Heinz Ulzheimer earned two bronze medals at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics in the 800 and 4x400 relay. The 800 bronze was the first German athletics medal after World War II. At the 1954 European Championships Ulzheimer also claimed a silver medal with the 4x400 relay. In West Germany he won 800 titles in 1946-49, and also 3x1000 relay titles in 1947-48. He added a 400 hurdles title in 1953 and a 400 indoor one in 1954.

Ulzheimer was awarded the Rudolf Harbig Memorial Award in 1953, and the Silver Bay Leaf in 1952. He was on the board of the Association of Former Athletes from 1982-90. Ulzheimer was married to non-Olympian sprinter Margot Glöckner and their son Michael was a nationally active sprinter in the 1970s. Ulzheimer was trained as an auto mechanic and later owned a petrol station, and was eventually employed by the city of Frankfurt, where he initiated and headed the city’s sports museum.

Personal Bests: 400 – 47.6 (1954); 800 – 1:49.78 (1952).